Managing content versions

摘要

Items of content may be available in any of a number of versions. Major aspects of each content version, such as overall plot and major characters, may generally overlap. However, minor aspects, such as level of description, minor characters, or sub-plots may vary between versions. Accordingly, systems and methods are provided for managing playback of multiple content versions, and enabling users to switch between such content versions. In some embodiments, a playback path including portions of multiple content versions may be provided, such that a user may consume only desired portions of each content version. In other embodiments, a determined playback path may be utilized to create a customized content version, which may be provided to a user.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for managing output of multiple versions of a content item, the computer-implemented method implemented under control of one or more computing devices configured with specific executable instructions, the computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving synchronization information corresponding to a content item, wherein:
the synchronization information associates each position of a plurality of positions within a first version of the content item to at least a respective position within an abridged version of the content item,the first version of the content item contains at least a portion of content omitted from the abridged version of the content item, andat least one position of the plurality of positions within the first version of the content item is within the portion of content omitted from the abridged version of the content item; and in response to output of at least a portion of the first version of the content item on a user computing device, receiving a request to output the abridged version of the content item; determining a current position of consumption within the first version of the content item; identifying, from the synchronization information, a first position within the first version of the content item that corresponds to the current position of consumption; identifying, from the synchronization information, a second position within the abridged version of the content item that is associated with the first position within the first version of the content item; and outputting, on the user computing device, the abridged version of the content item from the second position within the abridged version of the content item.